Police Commissioner General Khehla Sitole has issued a media statement on Thursday evening condemning the killings that occurred in Soshanguve North of Pretoria.

The statement calling for calm further asked protestors to stop the attacks on police officers, as well as the destruction of private property in the area.

During the early hours of the morning on Thursday, protestors in the precinct of Akasia Police Station stopped and burnt a truck with a cargo of cutlery. They incurred damages of approximately R700 000 in the process.

One officer wounded and two protestors killed

National police commissioner general Khehla Sitole confirmed that police responded to the scene but were ultimately attacked by the protestors. He said one of the officers sustained gunshot wounds to both his legs.

He was rushed to hospital for medical assistance and is currently in a stable condition. The statement continues:

“However, later in the day the protestors continued with their intentions to loot. It is alleged that during the commotion at one of the shops, the owner fatally shot a 35-year old man and fled the scene.”

Moreover, officers responded to the scene and were attacked. In addition, protestors damaged their vehicle. Sitole also added:

“The protestors proceeded to a house in Extension 5. They broke in and stole musical equipment and set the house alight. The police responded and discovered the body of a 30-year-old man across the street from the burnt house.”

Protestors continued to loot and damage property during the day. This, in turn, lead to two arrests for public violence by public order police.

Total Tshwane Shutdown: Calm restored

The area is calm, for now. Sitole made it clear that a multi-disciplinary task team was mobilised. The team comprises of seasoned detectives who will investigate the attacks. The statement continued:

“We have to bring those responsible to book as such behaviour is criminal and unacceptable.”

While the situation in Soshanguve is currently stable, the police will be on hand to ensure that things remain so. In addition, the two protestors will appear in court in due course on charges of public violence.

As reported by Times Live, the statement reiterates the police’s commitment to taking those who chose to break the law to task:

“The police’s crime scene management […] visited the scene to ensure that no stone is left unturned in the quest to trace and apprehend all perpetrators that masqueraded as protestors while advancing their criminal and violent activities that took the lives of two protestors.”